A look at the career of Are You Being Served? actor Frank Thornton, who has died aged 92.

Actor Frank Thornton, who has died at his home in London aged 92, was best known for his role as Captain Peacock in the BBC comedy Are You Being Served?

Set in a department store, Thornton played a stuffy store walker who looked down on junior staff, all while bragging about his experiences in the military.

The comedy starring Alfie Bass, Trevor Bannister and John Inman was a huge hit, often attracting audiences of more than 20 million when it ran between 1972 until 1985.

In 1992 he reprised his role as Captain Peacock in the spin-off show, Grace and Favour.

Specialising in comedy, Thornton also starred in Hancock's Half Hour, The Goodies and in the popular BBC One sitcom Last of the Summer Wine from 1997 until it ended 2010.

Thornton played former police officer Herbert "Truly" Truelove, one of a trio of scheming men who filled their days with pranks and had a unique perspective on their eccentric neighbours.

Thornton's film credits included Carry On Screaming! Some Will, Some Won't and No Sex Please, We're British. He also played Gremio in a television drama of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew in 1980.

Thornton also starred in Michael Bentine's ground-breaking comedy show It's A Square World, which often used scale models in sketches written and devised by the founding member of the Goons.